Delicious homemade dog treats which are perfect for any pooch following a gluten free diet. Packed with goodness from oats and Greek yogurt they provide good nutrition and make for the perfect reward for any obedient dog.

Ingredients:

• 300g fresh pumpkin puree
• 400g organic oats
• 3tbsp Greek yogurt (fat free)
• 3tbsp unsalted peanut butter (smooth)
• 2 eggs

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180C fan assisted.

Take your pumpkin and cut in half. With a large metal spoon scrape out all the seeds (which if you clean and wash and then toast in the oven make for a delightful nibbles for you as a reward). Take a large kitchen knife and chop the pumpkin into large chunks. Skin the tough outer shell away from the flesh and pop the fleshy parts into a blender or food processor, blitz until smooth.

Prepare two large baking trays by lining them with baking parchment.

In a large bowl place the oats and the freshly made pumpkin puree.

With a silicone spatula mix until well combined, then add the eggs one at the time, and mix some more.

Finally add the peanut butter and yogurt and mix until fully incorporated. Remove from the bowl and place on a flat surface suitable for rolling out.

The mixture will be a little sticky and maybe not as dry as one would hope for rolling but you will be able to roll it out and cut desired shapes; it just takes a little bit of doing, wet the rolling pin with some cold water to reduce the amount of mix sticking to your pin… finally take a cookie cutter… I went mad and splashed out 99p for two dog bone shaped ones, money no object hey 🙂 … and cut into treat sized pieces until all the mixture has been used and placed on the trays.

Or you can follow the easier option… take one flat large baking trey and put the entire mixture in one single, no thicker than 1cm, layer… you can bake it as a whole and cut into smaller pieces once baked. If you are going for the tray option remember to put baking paper before your mixture goes on. The cookies will not stick to the tray but it will be much easier to remove them from the tray once cooked in order to cut them into pieces. The only down side to this option is that they will not be so easy to cut into nice chunks as the final product is very crunchy so you will end up with bits but I am sure your dog won’t care one little bit.

Once the individual cookies (or one giant one) are on the tray, pop in to the earlier preheated oven. Baking time will depend on the way you cut your cookies… or didn’t cut… small ~3cm long treats and no more than 1cm thick will take around 40 minutes, if you made slightly larger ones add 5 minutes and for the one cookie bake add 15 minutes. You are aiming for a just slightly golden colour and zero give in the firmness to the touch… they have to be totally set and solid.

Once baked, remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

Place into an airtight container and use as needed (or demanded).

I actually tried these cookie myself (they smelt so good when they were cooking)… just one or two… they are quite tasty despite the lack of any herbs or spices… the peanut butter comes through in just the right amount but they are dry… so make sure your pooch has plenty of fresh, cool water in his or hers drinking bowl.

Have fun of you decide to bake them.